MECC Foundation Seeking Outstanding Alumnus
Big Stone Gap, VA —The Mountain Empire Community College Foundation is seeking nominees for the 2021 Outstanding Alumnus Award.
The award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to one or more areas of society, i.e., professional, academic, or personal achievements, civic service, or service to MECC. All living MECC alumni who have completed at least one class at MECC are eligible to be nominated and considered for the award. Self-nominations are also welcome. Current members of the MECC Local Advisory and Foundation Boards of Directors, current faculty and staff of the college, and members of the MECC Alumni and Friends Advisory Committee are not eligible to receive the award.
Nominations can be made online at the MECC website, www.mecc.edu under the Alumni & Friends tab at the top. Those needing a paper copy of the Nomination Form should contact Jeri Bledsoe at 276-523-2400, extension 640287. There is no limit to the number of nominations that one may submit. All entries must be submitted by April 15, 2021. A subcommittee of the MECC Alumni Advisory Committee will select the winner of the award.
2007 MECC Graduate Elisha Oakes was named 2020 Outstanding MECC Alumnus. She is currently an Assistant Public Defender with the Macomb County Public Defender’s Office. Previously, she was a solo law practitioner with her business located in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan.
Ms. Oakes has devoted her practice to criminal defense and family law cases. She received her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from Mountain Empire Community College in 2007 and her Associate Degree in General Studies in 2008. She continued her education at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She was awarded her Juris Doctor degree from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2013 and completed her Master of Laws (LLM) in 2014.
For the past four years Elisha has served on the Young Lawyers Executive Council for the State Bar of Michigan, and she is also a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.